Conveyer.



C. D. SEEBERGER.

GONVEYER. APPLICATION FILED APE. 9, 1906. RBNBWBD APB. 25, 1910.

Patented Nov. 29, 1910.

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977,047. Patented 190129.19111 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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UNTTED sTATEs PATENT oEEioE.

CHARLES D. SEEBERGER, Fy YONKERS, N'EHVV YORK.

specification or Letters Patent.

coNvEYER. f'

Patented Nov. 29,1910.

Continuation of application filed August 18, 1905, Serial No. 274,807. This application filed April 9, 1906, Serial No. 310,587. Renewed April 25, 1910. Serial No. 557,591.

To all whom. 'it may concern."

Be it known that I, CHARLES D. SEE-I BERGE'R, acitizen ofA the United States, residing at Yonkers, in the county of Westchester and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Conveyers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings;

My present invention relates to` certain improvements in landings for use with conveyers, and is designed, to produce a stationary landing upon which'the passenger can be discharged from the moving conveyer without any possibility of his being tripped or overthrown.

In carrying out my invention I employ in Y connection withva stationary rigid landing formed by or rigidly secured to the stationary structure, an intermediate float which is capable of the slight vertical movementwhich may be necessary between it and the stationary landing, against one end of which its end abuts, and which is also controlled by the conveyer so that there will be no gap between its receiving edge and the tread surface, thereby preventing any possibility of shoe soles, skirts, et'c., catching or wedging between the tread surface and the receiving edge of the float as the passenger is discharged upon the float.

My invention is further concerned with the same oat, provided with means whereby its vertical posit-ion with relation to each step as it passes beneath it is accuratel i' determined in advance by the step itse f, so that when the step reaches the receiving end of the float, it will'be at just the right height to exactly coperat with the step.

To illustrate my invention, I annex hereto two sheets of drawings in which the same reference characters are .used to designate identical parts in all the figures of which- Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section `through the upper end of the ordinary type with my invention applied thereto; and Fig.

3 is a top plan view o the saine but with the wheels and tracks also shown.

The steps 5 are of the customary con-4 struction, such as are shown in my ap lication No. 79,520, tiled October 22, 1901, eing mounted upon the wheels 6, which roll upon the customary tracks 7, the steps being conneoted by the rack links 8 with which the driving spur gear 9 meshes in the customary manner to advance the steps as power is applied to the spur gear. f

Of course it will be understood that I do not confine my invention to the employment of the particular form of steps shown` and method of driving them, and in some features I do not confine it to the employment ofsteps at all, as a continuous tread or cai'- rying surface might be employed instead of the separate steps shown.

The stepsJ 5 are in the saine horizontal plane at the upper end to form the moving `landing at the upper horizontal portion,

which landing may be of any desired length, varying from a fraction of a step to the several shown, and before they pass around the end'lO on their return movement, they pass beneath the stationary portion 11 of the landing which consists of a plate supported at its sides or far end, or both, from the stationary structure in which the moving stairway is mounted.

Interposed between the stationary landing and the tread surfaces of the steps forming the moving landing is the float 12, which consists of a thin plate extending across the tread surfaces of the steps, and preferably having its .forward edge beveled. This plate ,or float rests at its receiving edge upon the tread surface of the step beneath it, and may be held by any suitable mechanism which permits itto have a slight vertical movement to accommodate itself to steps whose horizontal tread surfaces are on slightly different levels, and by which it is held from'aiiy material longitudinal displacement. I preferably control the movements of the plate 12 by pivoting it at both sides to the parallel links 13 and 14, whose other ends are suitably pivoted by means of the rods 15 to the brackets 16 supported in the frame-work outside of the tracks 7. This mounting of the float will be readily seen to permit of the 'slight vertical movement thereof -that maybe necessary to accommodate it to steps having tread surfaces of different heights while preventing any possibility of its being displaced far enough longitudinally to interferewithits functions.

As shown in Fig. 2', the receiving edge and the bottom of the rear end of the lioat are preferably slightly below the level ofthe under side of the main portion of the float. With this arrangement, in the event that the step beneath the main portion of the float is higher than the one its receiving edge is over, a clearance is provided for such higher step so that the front edge ofthe float will not be lifted up andcause a gap thereat. Preferably, however, I provide mechanism whereby each step controls the'position of the forward edge of the float so that 'as the step passes beneath said forward edge the latter will be at a proper height to just permit the clearance of the step andv prevent the possibility of anything that is likely to be in the vicinity from getting between the step and the float. For this purpose, I secure to the arms 13 the arms 17, preferably forming them integral therewith, whose outer ends are provided with contact points, preferably taking the form of anti-friction rollers 18; and upon the side brackets 19 of each step, I adjustably secure the controlling plates 20, which may be conveniently secured, so as to be'vertically adjustable, by the set screws 21 passing through slightly elongated vertical slots 22 formed therein and taking into the brackets 19. From a consideration of the relation of these parts as shown in Fig.y 2, it will be a parent that just lprior to the time that the orward edge of any step reaches the adjacent edge of the float the anti-friction rollers 18 will strike the controlling plat-es 20 which have been carefully adjusted for each step at such a distance below its tread surface that when the forward edge of the step reaches the edge of the float, the latter will be elevated to just the right height to permit the clearance of the step without producing-a gap. 0 The reason for employing this mechanism is the fact that it is vvery diiicult to get the tread surface of each step at exactlyv the same height above the rails; and by providing the adjustable controlling plates, the desired accuracy can be secured more readily andcertainly than by depending on the accurate manufacture of the steps. These controlling plates may be extended, ifdesired, as indicated in dotted lines at 23 in Fig. vv2, so that they extend entirely across the step, and so that the float is at all times controlled by the height of the passing steps. l

In case the controlling mechanism is not employed, and the receiving edge of the float is allowed to rest on the tread surfaces of the steps, I bevel off the forward edge of each step a trifle, as indicated in dotted lines at 24 in Fig. 2, .so that in case a step with a hightread surface should follow a low one, the receiving edge of the ioat will not catch on the forward edge of such following step, as would necessarily occur if it were not beveled off,

trolled by the conveyer.

To do away with the'noise caused by the friction of the float on the steps, I may balance it, so thatit is suspended with little or none of its weight resting on the steps to cause friction by pressure. A convenient means of doing this is to extend the arm 13 vbelow its pivotal point- 15, as at 25, and mount thereon an adjustable slidingweight 26, held by a set screw 27, so that the desired amount of weight or pressure can be accurately regulated.

The above described float is of especial advantage in the comparatively short movable landing I have shown, and it will be apparent that it is of still greater use in the still shorter landings' which may be employed, and in those forms of conveyers in., which the landing is vpractically dispensed with, as the object of the movable landing is to-afford the passenger an interval of 85 time in which he may leave the conveyer after'reaching the top of the incline. If a long movable landing is employed, he has plenty of time to think, and naturally steps off carefully before the end of the movable landing is reached. If on the other hand, the movable landing is very short, or practi-l cally dispensed with, he has but little time to think, and it becomes essential to employ a safety device, such as the float, which prevents any possibility of his being caught by any gaps, etc., and insures his landing safely no matter how inattentive he'may be.

While I have shown my invention as embodied in the form which I at present con- Sider best adapted to carry out its purpose, it will be understood that it is capable of modifications, and that I do not desire to be limited in the interpretation of the following claims, except as may be necessitated by the state of'the prior art. j

This application is led in lieu of, and in continuation of my co-pending application Serial No. 118,049, filed August 2, 1902, renewed Au st 18, 1905, Serial No. 274,807, which I s all abandon, without of course abandoning the invention Vdescribed and claimed Atherein and which is hereby and herein reserved a d covered.

What I claim a new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is- 1. In a device of the class described, a conveyer, a stationary exit landing, and an interposed landing engaging with and con- 2. Inj a device of the class described, a conveyer, a stationary exit landing, and an interposed landing supported by the conveyer.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination vwith a conveyer, of a stationary exit landing, and an interposed substantially horizontal 'landing supported by the conveyer.

4. Ina device ofthe class described, the

combination with a moving tread surface, of

a stationary. exit landing, and an interposed landing maintained in substantially horizontal position by the tread surface.

5. In a device of the class described, the

combinatin with a moving tread surface4 exit landing, and an interposed float whose receiving end is adjusted by each step into intimaterelation with the tread of such step as the latter passes under the float.

7. In a device of the class described, the.

combination with amoving tread surface,

posed float resting on the tread surface adjacent thelandlng.

8. In a device of the class described, thev' combination with a moving tread surfacr' composed of a series of steps connected to move together with their treads in the same horizontal plane at the landing, of a sta tionary landing, and an interposedv float resting on the treads of the steps adjacent the landing.

9. In a device of the class described, the combination with a moving tread surface composed of a series of steps connected to move together with their treads in the same horizontal plane at the landing, of a sta- 'f r tionary landing, and an interposed float resting on the treads of the stepsadjacent the landing and having its receiving edge slightly below the under surface of the main 40 portion of the float.

10. In a device of the class described, the combination with tracks,lof steps mounted to move thereon and having horizontal treads, and means for driving the steps, of a stationary eXit landing, and an interposed vertically movable float resting on the treads of the steps adjacent the stationary landing.

11. In a device-ofthe class described, a moving tread surface composed of a series of steps, a stationary landing, and a float the position of which with relation to each step is automatically determined in advance by such step. .j v

12. In a device of the class described, a

moving stairway the steps of which travel with their treads in the same horizontal plane to provide an eXit landing at the top of the stairway, a stationary landing, and a float at the stationary landing the position of which with relation to each step is autovmatically determined in advance by such In a device of the class described, the

combination with a moving tread surface composed of a series of steps, of a stationary ofa stationaryI exit landing, and an inter-v landing, an interposed'float, and means con-l trolled by each step whereby the position of the float with relation to such step is accurately determined in advance by the step.

14. In a device of the class described, the combination with a moving tread surface, of a stationary landing, andan interposed independent oat having its receiving 'edge beveled and resting on the tread surface adjacent the landing.

15. In a device of the class described, the combination with a moving tread surface, of a stationary landing, an interposed float between the tread surface and the landing, and swinging supports for said float.

16. In a device of the class described, the combination with a moving tread surface composed of a series ofsteps mounted to move together with their treads in the same horizontal plane at the landing, of a stationary landing, an interposed float between the treads of the steps and the landing, and mechanism interposed between said loat and each step for accurately positioning the float vertically with relation to the tread of the step as it reaches the float.

17. In a device of the class described, the combination with a moving tread surface composed of a series of stepsmounted to move together with their treads in the same horizontal plane at the landing, of a staf tionary landing, an'inter'posed float between the treads of the steps and the landing, andd mechanism for adjusting said float and each step relatively to each other as the step reaches the ioat.

-18. In a device of the class described, the combination with a moving tread surface composed of a series of steps mounted to move together with their treads in the same horizontal plane at the landing, of a stationary landing, an interposed float between the.N f

`treads of the steps andthe landing, and

mechanism interposed between said float and each step for accurately positioning the float vertically with relation to thetread of the step as 1t reaches the float, consisting of a lever pivoted to the 'stationary frame work. and having one end coperating with said step and the other with the oat.

19. In a device of the class described, the combination with a moving tread surface composed of a series of steps mounted to move together with their treads in the sameW Y horizontal plane at the landing, of a stationary lan ing, an'interposed float between the treads of the steps andthe landing, and mechanism interposed between said float and each step for accurately positioning the float vertically wit-h relation to the tread of the step as it reaches the float, consisting of a lever pivoted to the stationary frame work at one point and tothe forward end of the float at another point, and having the third point thereof coperating with said step.

20. In a device of the class described, the

. combination with a moving tread surface composed of a series of steps mounted to move together with their treads in the same horizontal lane at the landing, of a stationary lan ing, an interposed float between the treads of the steps and the landing, and mechanism interposed between said float and each step for accurately positioning the float vertically with relation to the tread surface of the step as it reaches the float, consisting of a lever pivoted to the stationary frame work and having one end coperating with the ioat, and the forward end coperating with an adjustable controlling plate secured on the side of the step.

21. In a device of the class described, the

combination with a moving tread surface composed of a series of steps mounted to move together with their treads in the same horizontal plane at the landin of a stationary landing, an interposed oat bet-Ween I the treads of the steps and the landing, and mechanism interposed between said ioat and each step for accurately positioning the float vertically .with relation lto the tread of the step as it reaches the oat, consisting of a bell crank lever pivoted at its angle to the stationary frame work and pivoted at one end to the float, and having an anti-friction roller mounted on its other end coperating with an adjustable controlling plate secured on the side of the step.

. 22. In a device of t-he class described, lthe combination with a moving tread surface, of

the float to regulate its pressure on the tread surface. ,f

23. In a device of the class described, the combination with a moving tread surface,

of a stationary landing, an interposed float resting on the tread surface adjacent the landing, and means for balancing the weight of the float to regulate its pressure on the tread surface, consisting of parallel arms upon which said float is mounted, and an adjustable Weight on an extension of one of said arms.

24. In a device-of the class described, the combination with a moving tread surface, of a stationary landing, an interposed float resting on the tread surface adjacent the landing, and a counterbalancing arm to regulate the pressure of the float on the tread surface.

25. In a device of the class described, the combination with a moving tread surface, of a stationary landing, an interposed float resting on the tread surface adjacent the landing, and a'counterbalancing arm to regulate the pressure of the float on the tread surface and having an adjustable weight thereon.

In testimony whereof I aiiX my signature in presence ofkytwo witnesses. s

CHARLES D. SEEBERGER.

Witnesses:

EDMUND E; FIELD, J r., W. H. BRADY. 

